This initiative is the result of a scientific project that aims to contribute to better protection of Romania's valuable primary and old-growth forests.

The project has been led by the Rottenburg University of Applied Forest Sciences (Hochschule für Forstwirtschaft Rottenburg / HFR) and funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) and the Heidehof Foundation.
We have teamed up with experts from Romania and Austria to visit several primary forest clusters of particular scientific and ecological value in Romania, map forests, and explore suitable hiking areas for 'primary forest experiences'.

In the first leg of this project, we are mapping forests of particularly high biological and scientific value in selected target areas and submit recommendations for improvments of protected forest areas. This should contribute to both the EU Biodiversity and Forest Strategies (2030) , which aim to achieve comprehensive mapping and long-term preservation of all primary and old-growth forests on EU territory.

The second part of our project aims to establish and promote modest and cautious "wild forest" ecotourism in (selected) primary forest areas to create additional incentives for better protection of these forests - and to sensitize the local population to alternative “uses” of the forests, in which income is generated by tourism instead of by cutting down old tree stands. 

This website is a key element in raising awareness of Romania's wonderful forests, providing interested people with more information and giving recommendations for experiencing these gorgous primary forests.

What have we done so far?

We have researched international best practice examples on "wilderness tourism" and make them available to interested partners. 
We have explored, documented and publicly communicated options of accessing primeval forest areas. 
We have explored several primary forest areas in Romania and searched for suitable hiking areas. 
Our goal: to find hiking trails through impressive primary forests that offer unforgettable experiences and allow you to immerse yourself in the wilderness on safe paths.

We have only selected areas with existing marked hiking trails to avoid disturbing untouched natural areas and the habitats of strictly protected species. And: The forest hikes should be easily accessible from the trails heads (parking areas, roads with public transport supply) without too long walks on tiring forest roads. However, public transport access to hikes is a major challenge in Romania and often cannot be solved satisfactorily at present...

We have brought together Romanian and international tourism stakeholders and we try to promote partnerships and collaborations.

And we work with leading international experts in nature tourism, forest ecology and the importance of primary forests in Europe, such as the ‘REMOTE forests’ project of the Czech University of Life Sciences.

In the predecessor project "Virgin & Old Growth Forest in Romania - Safeguarding European Biodiversity Heritage", which was also financed by the DBU, we were able to map more than 5,000 hectares of primary and old-growth forests - and achieved strict long-term protection of many high value forests. 

This project goes one step further: we want to highlight publicly that the long-term preservation of these wonderful natural forests can also contribute to sustainable local and regional economic development.

How can you contribute? 

You can help us in this endeavour by visiting Romania's beautiful old-growth and primary forests – and by spreading the word about their beauty, uniqueness and ecological importance (and why they need to be preserved).

Thank you!

Project team (2022 - 2024): Monika Bachinger, Ion Holban, Rainer Luick, Matthias Schickhofer

A Partnership for the Preservation of Romania's Primary Forests – Ion Holban and Matthias Schickhofer – will continue to maintain this website after the project (see above) has been completed (January 2025):

Ion Holban: Environmentalist, ecology consultant, photographer, drone pilot ... (Bacau, Romania)

Matthias Schickhofer: Free nature advocate, nature tourism developer (Iseltrail, Bärentrail), photographer, strategy advisor, comms specialist, book author  (Vienna, Austria)